188 Feasibility and Anticipated Acceptability of Community Health Worker-facilitated HPV Self-sampling

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: This community-engaged study explores Community Health Workers (CHWs), perspectives on i) barriers to cervical cancer screening and ii) the acceptability and feasibility of CHW-facilitated HPV self-sampling as a means of reducing existing cervical cancer disparities. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 CHWs in 2021 to gain insights into barriers to cervical cancer screening and the acceptability and feasibility of CHW-facilitated self sampling in their communities. Recruitment began in Lake County then expanded to East Chicago after initial interviews revealed that some community members seek care in this area. An IRB approved email was sent out to community partners’ mailing lists inviting CHWs to join a 30–60 minute interview. Participants received a $25 electronic gift card as compensation. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and then analyzed by the study team, using a combination of inductive and deductive coding. The Socio-Ecological Model was used as a guiding framework to analyze multilevel barriers and facilitators to screening. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: CHW-facilitated HPV self-sampling shows promise of mitigating (without eliminating) several existing barriers to cervical cancer screening, with six key considerations. Privacy (for most), time saved, and comfort were perceived to be major facilitators for acceptability, with concerns about the novelty of this approach, trust in provider (as opposed to CHW) expertise, and lack of privacy at home (for some) emerging as barriers. In terms of feasibility, synergies with existing CHW work, and some community members’ prior experience with self-sampling were found to be facilitators, with CHW’s self-efficacy in providing adequate support and limited time constituting areas of concerns for feasibility. Considerations for adoption included CHW training, gender concordance, safety and respect, among others. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: In light of national calls to engage CHWs in screening delivery and leverage self-sampling, this study provides CHW perspectives as key stakeholders on a screening model that directly engages them, providing insights that can inform successful implementation to increase screening in Lake County and similarly underserved contexts in the US.